Prepayment electric fan-motor



No. 619,293. Patented Feb. l4, I899. W. C. FISH 8:. F. P. COX. PREPAYMENT ELECTRIC FAN MOTOR.

(Application filed Aug. 17, 1897.)

(No Model.)

F'z'g. 2.

UNTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

lVALTER C. FISH AND FRANK P. COX, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NElV YORK.

PREPAYMENT ELECTRIC FAN-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,293, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed August 17, 1897.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WALTER O. FIsH and FRANK P. COX, citizens of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepayment Electric Fan-Motors, (Case No. 618,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide certain improvements in coin-controlled mechanism, which are hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is shown and described in connection with an electric fan-motor, constituting what may be called a prepayment fan-motor, and such a combination is claimed in certain of the claims hereinafter made, though we also regard as our invention and claim improvements in the coin controlled mechanism of itself, irrespective of the character of the device whose operation is controlled.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View of the rear of a fan-motor, showing a coin controlled mechanism connected therewith and constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a different way of connecting the coin-controlled mechanism with the fan-motor.

To illustrate the manner of carrying out the invention, there is mounted in a suitable casing A on the back of an ordinary fan-motor B a coin-controlled mechanism consisting, for example, of a worm 1 upon the armature-shaft 2 of the fan-motor gearing with a worm-wheel 3 upon a shaft Z), having a worm a gearing with a worm-wheel 0 upon a shaft cl, having a pinion e gearing with a spur-wheel g on a shaft g, having a pinion g gearing with a spur-wheel w on a shaft h. The train of gears may be of any length and arrangement according to the speed of rotation desired for the last wheel in the train. Upon the shaft h of the last wheel w of the train is mounted a disk C, having its periphery formed with recesses or semicircular slotsz' to receive a coin edgewise, said periphery being adjacent at one point to the bottom of a coin-chute D, as shown in Fig. 1. These slots constitute a Serial No. 648,497. (No model.)

number of coin-holders which are arranged to receive and discharge one coin afteranother I successively, as will be clearly understood. The shaft h is connected to one terminal of the circuit, as indicated by the dotted line 7;.

Opposite to the disk C and mounted on the opposite side of the chute D is a spring-contact E, connected to the other terminal of the circuit, as at Z. The spring-contact E is located at such a distance from the disk C that a coin F dropped into the chute D will lodge in the opposite recess t' and rest against the spring-contact E. The springcontact is formed with a curved surface opposing the disk C, so as to afford a surface for the adjacent edge of the coin to pass over as the disk C revolves. As shown, it here consists of a depending arm C, curved or bent on an are, as shown, whereby as the disk 0 revolves the coin F will be held in its recesst' untilit clears the depending end of arm C, when it is released and dropped into the coin-receptacle G. Then the coin F drops into position in recess c' and rests against spring-contact E, the circuit through the motor is closed and the fan set in motion, and while rotating the disk C slowly revolves by means of the train of gearing leading to the motor-armature. As the disk C revolves the coin F is carried along with it and rubs against the depending arm C until it clears the end of the latter, when it drops into the receptacle G, breaking the circuit and causing the fan to stop. The length of the arm C is such with reference to the recesses i that when the coin F is released from disk C and the latter stops a recess 'i is in position to receive another coin.

The chute D is preferably of an irregular or zigzag shape to prevent tampering with the machine or to prevent the closing of the circuit between arm C and disk C by other than the proper means. The chute D can be filled with coins, if desired, and then the fan will operate for a time corresponding to the number of coins inserted.

In certain situations of the fan-motor the chute D and coin-receptacle Gwould not be readily accessible, and the coin-controlled mechanism may be placed in a convenient position and connected with the armature shaft of the fan-motor by a mechanical connection-as, for example, in Fig; 2 by means of an endless belt 11 passing over guide-pulleysp. In the coin-controlled mechanism any suitable form and arrangement of gearing may be employed.

We claim- 1. The combination with an electric fanmotor, of a coin-controlled mechanism geared to the armature-shaft of the fan-inotorand having a rotary coin-supporting device, the fan-motor and coin-controlled mechanism being in asingl'e b'roken electric circuit,,one of the terminals of said circuit serving, withthe rotary coin-supporting device, which is the other terminal of the circuit, to support an inserted coin and directly and instantly close the circuit and after a predetermined time permitting the release of the coin, whereby the circuit is broken and the motor stopped, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination with an electric fan- 1notor, of a coin-controlled mechanism, geared to the fan-motor and located in asingle broken electric circuit therewith, a coin-chute, acontact on-one side of said chute, the coin-controlled mechanism having a rotary device, forming a contact on the opposite side of the chute, and adapted with the first-mentioned contact to support an inserted coin, which instantly and directly closes the circuit, and after a predetermined time to release the coin and break the circuit, thereby stopping the motor, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combinationwith an electric fanmotor, of a coin-controlled apparatus in the same electrical circuit with the fan-motor,and

consisting ofa coin-chute, and a train of gearwheels, geared atone end to the armatureshaft'of the fan-motor and having a rotary disk at its other end adjacent to the coinchute,with means for engaging the edge of an inserted coin, and anelectrical contact opposite thereto, which also directly engages the edge of the inserted coin, whereby the coin serves to instantly close the electrical circuit aforesaid, and upon being automatically released from said contacts, breaks said circuit, thereby stopping the motor, substantiallyas herein set forth.

4. The combination with an electric motor, of 'a coin-controlled mechanism in the same electric circuit, which is open when the motor is not running, means for instantly and directly. automatically closing said circuit and starting the motorupon the insertion of a coin or token, and means-for automatically opening the motor-circuit by the release of said coin after the motor has been in operation for a predetermined length of time, corresponding to the value of the coin, as set forth.

5'. The combination with an electric motor,

of a coin-controlled mechanism driven by said motor, a fixed terminal in the circuit of the electric motor and a movable terminal in said circuit, adapted to engage an inserted coin bridging the space between said terminals and completing the circuit, and to release the coin after a certain length of time, thereby breaking the circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with an electric motor, of a coin-controlled mechanism geared thereto, and located in the same electric circuit therewith, and a break in said electric circuit by means of which an inserted coin automatically, directly and instantly completes fand closessaid circuit, is held in such position for a certain length of time, and is then automatically released, breaking the circuit and stopping the motor.

7. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the'combination of a rotating electric motor, an electric circuit therefor normally open, but closed automatically upon the'insertion of a coin or token between its terminals, and a coin-carrier geared to the motor by positively-acting speed-reducing gearing, whereby the coincarrier is set in motion when the motor starts, and aftera predetermined movement discharges the coin and opens the motor-circuit.

8. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination with a rotary electric motor, an electric circuit therefor normally open but closed automatically upon the insertion of a coin or token, afcoin-carrier geared to the motor and driven thereby, and a contact forming one terminal of the motor-circuit, the coin-carrier forming the other terminal, whereby, uponthe insertion of the coin or token, the motorcircuit is closed, the motor and coin-carrier set in motion and the latter operated for a predetermined period, when the coin is released, the motor-circuit broken, and the motor and coin-carrier stopped, as set forth.

9. The combination in a coin-controlled mechanism, of a coin-carrier, having a number of coin-holders, an electric-motor geared by positively-acting gearing to the coimcarrier, means for setting the motor and carrier in motion upon insertion of acoin or token in one of the coin-holders and in contactwith the terminals of a break in the motor-cit cuit, and means for discharging the coin as soon as the coin-carrier has moved to a point where a second coin-holder is in position to receive a second coin, as set forth.

10. The combination of an electric motor, a coin-carrier geared to the motor and having a number of coin-holders which are adapted to receive and discharge one coin or token after another successively, and means for closing the motor-circuit and setting the coincarrier in motion whenever a coin is present in the carrier and in contact with the terminals of a break in the motor-circuit, as set forth.

11. The combination with an electric-motor mechanism, ofa rotary coin-pocketwheel and suitable gearing connecting said wheel with a rotary part of the motor, whereby said Wheel will be rotated by the operation of the motor mechanism, and a predetermined amount of energy delivered to the customer by the insertion of a suitable coin in said pocket-Wheel and in contact with the terminals of a break in the motor-circuit.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this Mth day of August, 1897.

WALTER O. FISH. FRANK P. COX. Vitnesses:

DANIEL B. GAUOHET, JOHN W. GIBBONEY. 

